KATHMANDU: For the first time in the country, Child Health Division (CHD) under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) is all set to launch an urban health programme to address health issues of the urbanites.

Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, director, CHD, said that groundwork was on to introduce the programme on “micro planning approach” so as to reach the target group — maternal mothers and children below five years old. “We’ve planned to introduce the programme as the similar programme of the MoHP was found to be full of loopholes,” said Upreti.

He further added that the need of such programme was felt as the campaigns like polio, vitamin A were more successful in remote areas in comparison to cities. “And, the MoHP doesn’t possess valid data regarding the number of clinics and health facilities in the urban areas,” he maintained. “Due to such a situation, there is unequal distribution of the resources as well.”

The programme will be implement within three months.

“We’re seeking coordination with municipalities and asking these local bodies to take ownership for running maternal and child health programmes,” he said. The CHD is also seeking the partnership between Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) and MoHP.

A total budget of Rs 12 million has been allocated for the project, which Dr Upreti claims to have been designed to cope with the problem resulted due to the urbanisation.